Fountain pen



Feb 6, 1|945- H. H. scHuLMAN E'rAl. 2,369,080

'FOUNTAIN PEN Filed sept. 17, 1943` l INVENTOHS 2y M z um EL OLswA/ve MLM/RY 5 HuL MAN v\ TT O Y um N mm mm. mm N NTI m @wf Ill um mi 1l. 4 /Ar/rfftrr .Ihn ...,...JJwf

Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED ySTATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN Henry H., Schulman. Bronx, and Michael l:-

Y wang, Queens, N. Y.

Application September 17, 1943, Serial No. 502.848

(Cl. 1Z0-49) Claims.

This invention relates to pens. commonly referred to as fountain pens. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure of this type `and kindwherein two unit writing implements are arranged within a single pen barrel with means operatively engaging the units to alterf nately extend and withdraw both umts with respect to the barrel in selectively arranglngthe penpoint of the u-nits in writing position beyond the limits of one end of the barrel. Further, the invention relates to the formation of writing implement units of semi-cylindrical cross tains an operating sleeve I8 against displacement from the pen barrel, while at the same time, providing forrotation of the sleevebetween the cap I 5 and the reduced end portion I1 of the barrel.

The spacing sleeve Il has on opposite walls thereof, and in common alinement with the lever devices I2, elongated apertures I8, note Fig. 3,

`which form keyways for receiving pins or screws I9 on the inner ends of each implement or pen unit 23--2Il. The pins have shoe like heads 2|, which operate in spiral grooves 22 on the inner surfaces of the sleeve I8 in controlling the intermittent and reverse feed of the units and 20'. In other words, in Fig. 1 o1' the drawing the unit 20 is arranged inwardly and the unit 20 is arranged outwardly or into the projected position, Aand in the reverse rotation of the sleeve i8, the above operation will be reversed. In

other words, the unit 20 will be drawn inwardly and the unit 20' projected outwardly.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through l a fountain pen made according to the invention, showing one of the pen or implement units in extended position. v

Fig. 2 is a cross section substantially on thev line 2 2 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig, 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the implements or pen units detached, with part of the construction broken away. y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an ink sack employed in the respective pen units; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detailed view of an operating sleeve which we employ for actuating the units longitudinally with respect to the pen barrel.

In the drawing, l0 represents the barrel of the pen. The pen barrel has a long bore I I of substantially the same diameter throughout the length of the barrel. On opposite walls of the barrel are openings in which are mounted the usual lever devices I2 for compressing the sack for iilling the pen. In .the present construction,

two of these devices are employed to operatively engage the two pen units later described.

The upper end of the pen barrel I0 is internally threaded, as seen at I3, to receive one end of a spacing sleeve Il, to the other threaded end of which is attached a knob Il, which re` As both units 2li- 20' are of the same construction, the brief description of one will apply to both. Each of these units comprises an elongated tubular casing 23, semi-cylindrical in cross sectional form to provide between the two units i'lat engaging walls 24, as will clearly appear in Fig. 2 of 'the drawing. The tubular casing 23 is open at both ends, and in one end is arranged a section 25, in which the penpoint proper 26, and feed 2l is mounted. The section has an inner reduced end 28 on which the contracted end 29 ont the ink sack 30 is secured.

This construction is more or less the same asl in yconventional pen practise, with the exception of the cross sectional contour of the parts. Considering Fig. 5 of the drawing, it will appear that the sack 30 is semi-cylindrical in form to conform with the cross sectional contour of the casing 23. Secured in the 'other end cf the casing 23 is a plug 3|, which forms a support for thev pin I9, which is in the form of a screw, but is made [free to rotate in -the plug in providingl free movement of the shoe 2| in the grooves 22 of the sleeve I 6.

The screw I9 also serves to support one end of a spring arm 32, at said end of the casing.

They other end of the arm is arranged beneath an elongated opening 33 formed in the upper convexed surface of the casing in position to register with the respective lever devices I2, so that in the operation of the lever device the sack 30 of the pen may be compressed in the lling operation 0f the sack, as in other tountain pen constructions. At this time, 1t will be` understood that this filling operation takes place when the pen unit is in the writing position. In other words, in a position similar to the unit 20' of'Fig. 1, in which position the penpoint and feed are adapted to be submerged into the ink fluid for the filling operation.

A suitable cap 3l is also preferably employed, and this cap will be provided with a spring clip arm 35 to facilitate mounting of the complete pen in a pocket` or in connection with another support. However, the particular structure of the cap and the method of its mounting on the pen barrel may be accomplished in many ways, and forms no specific part of the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will readily appear that within the pen barrel and constituting a unit part thereof are arranged the two independent implements or pen units 20-20'. In certain uses of the dual fountain pen construction, one unit may contain a writing fluid of one color, and the other a fluid of a contrasting color, or two different types of fluids which might be substantially ofthe same color. For example, a normal writing fluid classified as black, and a fluid having water proof characteristics, such as drafting ink, which might also be classified as black.

In many instances, however, the dark black or blue fluid is used in combination with what is generally classified as red ink. 1

Where contrasting colors or different ink characteristics are of no importance, the two units may be used for the storage of one common fluid. and in this event, the one unit constitutes a reserve for the other companion unit. In thisway, a constant supply of writing fluid may be maintained in aA4 fountain pen, particularly when the writer knows that one of the units or implements has been exhausted of ink, and heis working upon the auxiliary or reserve unit. Quite often, the users of fountain pens suddenly'become aware of the fact that they are without ink. With the present construction, a substantial amount of reserve ink is always on hand to carry over to'the period of re-filling of the initial supply which had become exhausted during the day.

When it is desirable to dispense with the use of conventional filling devices, such as the lever devices I2, the Walls of the pen barrel may be left solid, and these devices omitted, and in such uses, the cap end I5 is removed as well as the sleeve I8, and the units 20, 20' can be detached from the pen barrel and sleeve I4 by removing the screws I9. The pen units may be re-lled by compression of the spring 32 through the opening 33 by any narrow tool, or even by the nailOf a finger.

It will be apparent that the units 2li-20' when detached become in themselves implements of writing which can be used as such, and apart from the pen barrel.

A Froml a standpoint of `servicing fountain pens, it will also appear that the separate implements or pen units can be readily detached and new substitute units mounted in the barrelas service units in the repair of the removed units. In this way, the owner of the fountain pen may be maintained with continued use of the pen. By reason of the simplicity of the complete pen structure the dual pen may be manufactured at a reasonable price, thus keeping the cost to the consumer comparatively low. The fact that both units are identical in construction, means that a single unit -is produced, and aside from the unit a very simple pen barrel construction is employed with the two sleeves I I and I3 at one end including the closure cap III, as well as the two lever devices I2 when the latter are desirable.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. Afountain pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, an end closure cap, a spacing sleeve Joining the cap to one end of the barrel, two pen units mounted in said barrel and sleeve, each of said units comprising a casing semi-cylindrical in cross section providing a fiat surface thereon, said fiat surfaces of the units being adjacent 'to each other, each unit having a writing point and ink feed at one end thereof, an operating sleeve rotatably mounted on said spacing sleeve, and interengaging means on said operating sleeve and said units to move said units longitudinally of said barrel and selectively prol ject the writing points thereof beyond one end of said barrel.-

2. A fountain pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, an end closure cap, a spacing l sleeve joining the cap to one end of thebarrel,

two pen units mounted in said barrel and sleeve, each of said units comprising a casing semi-cylindrical in cross section providing a flat surface thereon, said fiat surfaces of the units being adjacent to each other, each unit having a writing point and ink feed at one end thereof, an operating sleeve rotatably mounted on said spacing sleeve, interengaging' means on said operating.l sleeve and said units to move said units longitudinally of said barrel and selectively project the writing points thereof beyond one end of said barrel, each unit including an ink sack in the casing thereof, means in said casings and exposed therethrough for compressing said sacks in refilling the same, and means arranged in xed o positions in the barrel of the pen for operating said last named means.

3. A fountain pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, an end closure cap, a spacing sleeve joining the cap to one end of the barrel, two pen units mounted in said barrel and i sleeve. each of said units comprising a casing semi-cylindrical in cross section providing a fiat surface thereon, said flat surfaces of the units being adjacent to each other, each unit having a writing point and ink feed at one end thereof, an operatingsleeve rotatably mounted on said spacing sleeve, interengaging means on said operating sleeve and said units to move said units longitudinally of said barrel and selectively project the writing points thereof beyond one end of said barrel, each unit comprising an elongated casing, an ink sack within thel casing, one wall of the casing having an elongated aperture, a sack compressing bar exposed to the aperture of said casing, and means on the pen barrel adapted to operatively engage said bar in compressing the ink sack in the operation of refilling the ink sack.

4. In a fountain pen, a barrel, a pen unit slidably mounted in the barrel of the pen to protrude through one end thereof, said unit comprising a casing, a compressible ink sack in said casing, a sack compressing bar exposed through one wall of the casing, and means fixed in the barrel of the pen in alinement with said bar for operating said bar to compress the sack in the operation of refilling the sack of said unit.

5. In a fountain pen, a barrel, a pen unit slidably mounted in the barrel of the pen to protrude through one end thereof, said unit comassenso prising a casing. a compressible ink sack in said casing, a. sack compressing bar exposed through one wall of the casing. means fixed in the barrel of the pen in allnement with said bar for operating said bar to compress the sack in the operation of refilling the sack of said unit, a fixed sleeve extending from the other end of the barrel..

a rotatable sleeve on said fixed sleeve, means rey taining the rotatable sleeve against movement longitudinally of the fixed sleeve and said barrel, means on the fixed sleeve and said' unit for keying the unit for longitudinal movement in the fixed sleeve and barrel, and means on the rotatable sleeve operatively engaging the last named means of said unit to reciprocate the unitlongitudinally of the pen barrel and fixed sleeve.

6. A writing implement comprising an elongated casing having a fixed sleeve extension at the closed end thereof, a writing unit arranged in unit and an elongated aperture in said sleeve extension for keying theunit against rotation in the casing while permitting longitudinal movement of the unit therein, a rotatable sleeve on' said sleeveA extension, means on the rotatable sleeve engaging said shoe to move the unit longitudinally of the casing in two directions, said unit comprising an elongated tube, an elongated aperture in one wall of said tube, and a refilling device fixed in the wall of said casing and registering with the aperture of said tube in controlling the refilling of said unit.

8. In fountain pens of the class described employing a barrel, with -means for feeding a pen unit longitudinally off the barrel, a pen unit comprising an elongated tubular casing semi-cylindrical in section throughout the major portion of the length thereof, .a writing point and ink feed at one end of said unit and detachable with respect to said casing, a compressible ink sack arranged in and longitudinally of the casing of said unit for the major portion of the length thereof and said sack being semi-cylindrical in section to conform with thev cross sectional contour of said casing.

9. In fountain pens of theclass describedem-l ploying a barrel, with means for feeding a pen unit longitudinally of the barrel, a pen unit comprising an elongated tubular casing -semi-cylindrical in section throughout the major portion of the length thereof, a writing point and ink feed at one end of said unit and detachable with respect to said casing, a compressible ink sack arranged in and longitudinally of the casing o'f said unit for the major portion of the length thereof,

said sack being semi-cylindrical in section to conform with the cross sectional contour of said casing, the casing of said unit having an elongated opening in one wall thereof, and a sack compressing bar mounted in the casing and exposed to the aperture therein.

10. In fountain pens ofthe class described employing a barrel, with means for feeding a pen unit longitudinally of the barrel, a pen unit comprising an elongated tubular `casing semi-cylindrical in section throughout the major portion of the length thereof, a writing point and ink feed at one end of said unit and detachable with respectl to said -casing, a compressible ink sack arranged in and longitudinally-of the casing of said unit for the maior portion of the length thereof, said sack being semi-cylindrical in section to conform with the cross sectional contour of said casing, the casing of said unit having an elongated opening in one wall thereof, a sack compressing bar mounted in the casing and exposed to the aperture therein, and said pen barrel havl ing bar operating means registering with said bar in the movement of the unit longitudinally of said barreL HENRY H. SCHULMAN. MICHAEL OLSWANG. 

